(In no particular order) these are the guys who aren’t necessarily seen as stars now, but will be in a few weeks:
Jaylen Dixon – In all the interviews throughout fall camp, Dixon is the WR who’s name came up the most. Whit has talked about him as being a legit deep threat. Ludwig praised him as becoming an every down WR — not just a specialty guy. The connection between him and Huntley has been noteworthy.
Cole Fotheringham/Brant Kuithe – I combine these two because they will have very similar roles, and both will be very effective weapons. Both have bulked up and improved their blocking while keeping their athleticism. Many talk about the lack of throw game threats being a weakness for the offense, but these two will wreak havoc in the passing game. TT just scratched the surface with these two, and Ludwig will fully integrate them into the game plans.
Francis Bernard – He was still in a bit of turmoil when he joined the team last year. He was getting academics squared away, his body wasn’t quite right, and there was contention between him and the previous LB coach. He spent all offseason getting in shape and getting academics figured out. Francis came into fall camp in the best shape of his life, and in his words “the best football player I’ve ever been”. Seeing him in person, he’s a much more menacing figure than last year; faster, stronger, meaner and more of a leader. Whit says he’s “cut out of the same block as Chase Hansen and Cody Barton”.
Terrell Burgess – In a competitive camp position battle, Burgess emerged as the starter next to Julian Blackmon at Safety. The coaches are very confident that Terrell will step in and carry the Ute torch of high-level safety play. He is fast, smart, hits hard and just a great dude to talk to and be around.
Tyler Huntley – While the coaches and most fans know what Huntley is capable of, he is still very underrated and often criticized throughout this offseason. Coming into the first game, the coaches couldn’t be happier with where Tyler is in his development— specifically with his decision making and accuracy. One coach, off the record, says Huntley is better now than he was at any point last season.
Jordan Wilmore – It takes a lot for Whit to heap praise on a freshman, and Wilmore has received plenty of it from him. Wilmore has shined in the starting reps he’s gotten with Moss sitting out of contact play. His quickness and elusiveness stand out. He also runs hard and doesn’t go down without a fight.
Maxs Tupai – While Maxs was easily the highest rated recruit on the D-Line, he’s overshadowed by the three NFL prospects that accompany him on said line. He came on strong the second half of last season, and you can expect him to pick up where he left off. When asking players who’s the hardest hitter on defense, you’ll almost always hear Tupai’s name mentioned first— just ask USC QB Matt Fink how he broke his ribs and see if he agrees.
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